MAY 2013 - The first ever comprehensive tobacco control legislation in Viet Nam - a public health milestone for the country took effect on 1 May 2013, after being adopted by the National Assembly on 18 June 2012. The new law establishes smoke-free places, increases the size of graphic health warning labels, restricts tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and establishes a tobacco control fund.

Key contents of the law include the following:

APRIL 2013 - On 22 April 2013, in line with Act CXXXIV "on reducing smoking prevalence among young people and retail of tobacco products" (adopted by the Hungarian Parliament on 11 September 2012), the National Tobacco Trading Nonprofit Company (a 100% Government-owned joint-stock company established by the relevant minister under the mandate of this law) published the names of the applicants who will be allowed to open supervised tobacco stores.

APRIL 2013 - A comprehensive revision of the 2005 Tobacco Control Law was adopted by the Parliament of Mongolia and entered into force on 1 March 2013.

The main provisions of the new law include the following:

- State policy on tobacco control is now included in broader public health policy, with guiding principles for such policy, including protection from the interests of the tobacco industry;

- there are new requirements concerning import, export, manufacture and trade in tobacco products, including limits on quantities that may be imported for personal use;

APRIL 2013 - A comprehensive new Act (Nº 08/2013) was signed by the President on 1 March 2013 and entered into force on 8 April 2013. The law is aimed at preventing tobacco use, informing and educating the public about the consequences of tobacco use, preventing exposure to tobacco smoke, eliminating illicit trade in tobacco products, and motivating smokers to quit.

The main provisions of the new law are as follows:

- a permit is required to grow, manufacture, import and export tobacco and tobacco products;

MARCH 2013 - On 15 March 2013, the Government of Georgia adopted a decree on the creation of the State Committee on Tobacco Control to strengthen tobacco control in Georgia and, specifically, with a view to ensuring the effective implementation of the country's 2010 Law on Tobacco Control.

FEBRUARY 2013 - The packaging of tobacco products placed on the Icelandic market is now required to display photographs in line with new regulations that have been in effect since 1 January 2013. The images were selected from the library developed by the European Commission and depict the negative health effects of smoking. In addition, every pack will also provide information on a quit line number or a web site for those wanting to quit tobacco use. The 14 new health warnings must be rotated to guarantee their regular appearance.

FEBRUARY 2013 - The Suriname Parliament unanimously passed comprehensive tobacco control legislation on 7 February 2013.

DECEMBER 2012 - More than ten years have passed since the adoption of the Tobacco Products Directive. During this time, there have been several market, scientific and international developments in the tobacco sector and the existing rules present a number of weaknesses, gaps and loopholes. Therefore it has become necessary to update and complete the current Directive. A revision was repeatedly called for by the Council and the European Parliament.

JANUARY 2013 - In line with the recommendations resulting from the needs assessment exercise conducted jointly by the Government of Cook Islands and the Convention Secretariat in early 2012, Cook Islands has adopted a Tobacco Control Action Plan for the period 2012 to 2016. The Action Plan was launched in December 2012 by Nandi Glassie, Minister of Health, and aims to ensure that Cook Islands fulfils its obligations under the WHO FCTC.

FEBRUARY 2013 -Since 1 February 2013, the packaging of tobacco products placed on the Irish market has been required to display graphic photographs that depict the negative health effects of smoking. The 14 images, to be rotated in such a way as to guarantee their regular appearance, were selected from the library of images developed by the European Commission.